Dialogue mechanism, outcomes of previous meetings

President Xi and his South African counterpart Zuma are cohosting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg on Friday. The forum serves as a major platform for both sides to reinforce their coordination of policies in almost all sectors.

The dialogue and consultation mechanism of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has three levels.

At the top level, the Ministerial Conference is held every three years.

The Senior Official Follow-up Meeting takes place the year before a Ministerial Conference, while the preparatory Meeting for the Ministerial Conference is held a few days previously…

Delegates also meet at least twice a year for the Meetings of African diplomats in China with the Chinese Follow-up Committee…

BEIJINGOCTOBER, 2000Beijing hosted the First Ministerial Conference in October 2000, where the Beijing Declaration and Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development was adopted. This set the course for a China-Africa partnership based on long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit. The Chinese government exempted debts worth 10 billion yuan from a number of the least developed countries in Africa and established the Human Resources Development Fund for Africa.

ADDIS ABABADECEMBER, 2003The 2nd Ministerial Conference, held in Addis Ababa in December 2003, adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration and Action Plan as its outcome. This outlined China-Africa cooperation for the next three years… China agreed to train 10,000 professionals in Africa, and give zero-tariff treatment to products exported to China from some of the least developed countries.

BEIJINGNOVEMBER, 2006In November 2006, the 3rd Ministerial Conference was again chaired by Beijing as part of final preparations for the upcoming Beijing Summit. The conference decided, based on the Declaration of the Beijing Summit and the Beijing Action Plan, to establish and develop a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality, mutual trust and economic cooperation. China announced it would support national development in Africa. Measures included further assistance; the provision of preferential loans and export buyer's credit; establishing the China-Africa Development Fund; and assistance in building the AU conference center.

SHARM EL-SHEIKHNOVEMBER, 2009The 4th Ministerial Conference, held in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2009, deliberated follow-up actions taken after the Beijing Summit. It also adopted a new Declaration and Action Plan, laying down a three-year plan for China-Africa cooperation. The Chinese government announced new cooperation measures covering agriculture, environmental protection and health care.

BEIJINGJULY, 2012In July 2012, the 5th Ministerial Conference adopted a new Beijing Declaration and Beijing Action Plan for 2013 to 2015, outlining priority areas for cooperation. A new set of measures that China revealed to support Africa's peaceful development focused on five major areas: investment and financing; assistance; African integration; non-governmental exchanges; and peace and security.